"My main driver for wanting to become a physician is a fascination with the material and practice itself. I'm very drawn to the study of biology, in particular, human anatomy, cellular function, and disease pathology. Going to medical school to learn more about these topics and how to use that knowledge to save lives and improve people's quality of living seems like the perfect career in my mind."

"I want to become a physician to improve the health of those disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's. When I was a teenager, I watched my grandmother suffer from Alzheimer's disease. My family and I did not know what Alzheimer's disease was and did not have the resources to cope with how the disease affected my grandmother and family. As I learned more about the medical field, I saw how health education, along with resources, can improve the well-being of people, especially African Americans. The life-long learning and improving the health of communities around me is what gravitates me toward medicine."

"As a child, I was in and out of hospitals and clinics to treat some serious swallowing problems. At 16 I had a ruptured teratoma cyst in my left ovary that left me in the most excruciating pain I have ever been in in my life. The doctors in both instances made purposeful relationships with me and helped ease pain during some of my toughest days. They affected my life immensely and I want to do that with my patients and have a direct impact on making their bad days better."